Retirement not on Donaire's mind

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Former world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is not thinking about hanging up his gloves, as he has regained his motivation to continue fighting, a year after suffering an embarrassing loss.

Donaire was on a 12-year winning streak when he fought Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux in April 2013, and subsequently dropped a decision after submitting an uncharacteristically listless performance.

After getting back on track with a knockout victory over old rival Vic Darchinyan last November, Donaire said he has a newfound sense of purpose and is once again eager to fight.

“I’m far from (retirement) at this moment,” Donaire said on “The Bottomline with Boy Abunda.” “I just found a new motivation. I’m not just fighting for myself or for my son or my family.”

“I’m fighting for everybody else. I’m here to inspire, I’m here to do everything that I got to do, to reach the pinnacle of what I can achieve,” he added.

Donaire, who was bullied as a child and attempted to commit suicide more than once, said he wants to show children that anything is possible.

“When people ask me, ‘Why do you box? Is it for titles?’ I’ve done titles, and it’s not what I seek,” he said. “What I seek is (to be an) inspiration for people out there.”

“A little boy who was bullied, a little boy who never though he was something and was told by everyone that he was never gonna be anything became a world champion, became one of the best in his division,” said Donaire.

“The most important thing in my life, that I want to be proud of when I leave the ring, is that at least, I was able to inspire a boy out there to believe in himself.”

Donaire said that when he hangs up his gloves, he wants to be able to say that he “did everything that I can and I got this far, and I’m happy with it.”

“But right now, I’m not happy where I’m at,” he says. “I want more.”

Donaire returns to action in May against South Africa’s Simpiwe Vetyeka, in a 12-round match for the WBA featherweight title